scarcity
noun
scar·ci·ty
ˈsker-sə-tē 
-stē
plural scarcities
: the quality or state of being scarce
especially
: want of provisions for the support of life
Examples of scarcity in a Sentence
Scarcity of food forced the herds to move.
the scarcity of good restaurants around here is surprising
Recent Examples on the Web
Moving quickly is important, bill sponsors said, because the issue of water scarcity is urgent, especially as the state’s population grows.
—
Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2025
Though his parents were highly regarded in the community, Wood’s childhood was sometimes shaped by a sense of scarcity and limitation.
—Ismail Muhammad, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Here’s Where Trump’s Government Layoffs Are—IRS, TSA And More
JPMorgan Issues Serious Wall Street Bitcoin Price Warning
In the U.S., this credit market practice continues into the present and contributes to the scarcity of affordable homes for sale.
—Ann Rutledge, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
The relative scarcity of data points lies behind the fluctuating risk assessment, which, until yesterday, had pegged the asteroid’s probability of impact at 2.6 percent.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scarcity
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Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2025
Though his parents were highly regarded in the community, Wood’s childhood was sometimes shaped by a sense of scarcity and limitation.
—Ismail Muhammad, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Here’s Where Trump’s Government Layoffs Are—IRS, TSA And More
JPMorgan Issues Serious Wall Street Bitcoin Price Warning
In the U.S., this credit market practice continues into the present and contributes to the scarcity of affordable homes for sale.
—Ann Rutledge, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
The relative scarcity of data points lies behind the fluctuating risk assessment, which, until yesterday, had pegged the asteroid’s probability of impact at 2.6 percent.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scarcity
Articles Related to scarcity
Cite this Entry
“Scarcity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarcity. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scarcity
noun
scar·ci·ty
ˈsker-sət-ē
ˈskar-
plural scarcities
: the quality or state of being scarce : a very small supply
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